Automatic envelope opener

ABSTRACT

An automatic envelope opener is described wherein a housing having an envelope infeed platform and envelope outfeed platform enables envelopes to be automatically opened. The envelopes are retained on edge in a generally vertical orientation on the platforms and moved one at a time from the infeed platform along a travel path, where a cutter is located, to the outfeed platform for stacking. The envelopes have a small edge segment severed by a cutter horizontally operative in the travel path and are automatically stacked against a movable retainer at the outfeed platform with a stacker and a diverter wall placed in the travel path to deflect envelopes towards the retainer. An envelope jogger is mounted on the housing to urge envelope contents to one edge and enable envelope opening without damage to the contents.

United States Patent 1191 Luperti Aug. 13, 1974 AUTOMATIC ENVELOPEOPENER Inventor: Harry E. Luperti, Wilton, Conn.

Assignee: Pitney-Bowes, Inc., Stamford, Conn.

Filed: June 25, 1973 Appl. No.: 373,518

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Owen 83/192 X Simjian 83/912 XStephens et a1 53/381 R Primary ExaminerFrank T. Yost Attorney, Agent,or Firm--William D. Soltow, Jr.; Albert W. Scribner; Martin D. Wittstein[5 7] ABSTRACT An automatic envelope opener is described wherein ahousing having an envelope infeed platform and envelope outfeed platformenables envelopes to be automatically opened. The envelopes are retainedon edge in a generally vertical orientation on the platforms and movedone at a time from the infeed platform along a travel path, where acutter is located, to the outfeed platform for stacking. The envelopeshave a small edge segment severed by a cutter horizontally operative inthe travel path and are automatically stacked against a movable retainerat the outfeed platform with a stacker and a diverter wall placed in thetravel path to deflect envelopes towards the retainer. An envelopejogger is mounted on the housing tourge envelope contents to one edgeand enable envelope opening without damage to the contents.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FIG. I

PATENTED MIR 1 31974 SHEET 1 0F 3 PATENIEnAuc 1 31974 SHEEI 2 BF 3AUTOMATIC ENVELOPE OPENER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto an automatic envelope opener. More specifically, this inventionrelates to an apparatus for the automatic opening and stacking ofenvelopes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Machines for the automatic opening ofenvelopes have been well-known in the art. See for example the patentsto Keiser U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,838,840 and 2,027,045. In the latter patent,a horizontally disposed envelope is advanced by a twisted belt towards arotating cutter which severs a small edge segment of the envelope toopen it. Another envelope opener is described in the patents to LawrenceU.S. Pat. Nos. 2,220,251 and 2,272,323 and a more recent envelope openeris described in the patent to Calhoun, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 2,635,694.

When a large number of envelopes need to be opened, a quick andefficient envelope opening is desired without problems such as anintermixture of cut chips with the opened envelopes or inadvertentdamage to the contents of the envelopes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an automatic envelope opener in accordancewith the invention, a stack of envelopes is placed on an infeed platformof a housing after their contents have been urged towards one envelopeedge by a jogger device located on the housing. The envelopes are thenplaced on the infeed platform while resting on the edge which isopposite to the one adjacent to the envelope contents.

The envelopes are retained in a generally vertical position on theinfeed platform from which they are advanced to an outfeed platformalong a travel path by a belt. The envelopes bottom edges are urgedagainst a pair of generally horizontally oriented rotating cutterelements which are so located to sever the bottom envelope edges to openthe envelopes. The outfeed platform of the envelope opener is providedwith a stacker with which the opened envelopes are stacked.

An advantage of the envelope opener resides in its ability to openenvelopes in a quick manner without damage to or loss of the contents. Avariety of different envelope sizes may be accommodated whilemaintaining a stacking capability in an automatic manner.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an automaticenvelope opener whereby each envelope may be conveniently opened and alarge number can be quickly processed in an efficient and accuratemanner without destruction of envelopes contents while accommodating alarge number of different envelope sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS These and other advantages and objects ofan envelope opener in accordance with the invention will be understoodfrom the following description of an automatic envelope opener inaccordance with the invention described in conjunction with thedrawings. wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an envelope opener inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal plan view of an envelope opener shown in FIG. 1;and

. FIG. 3 is a section view of the envelope opener taken along the line33 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG. 1, anautomatic envelope opener 10 is shown formed of a housing 12 having anenvelope infeed platform 14. An envelope retainer 16 is located oninfeed platform 14 and is spring loaded towards an infeed envelope guidewall 18.

An envelope outfeed platform 20 is provided with an envelope retainer 22in the form of a press plate which is spring loaded towards an outfeedenvelope support wall 24 to maintain opened envelopes in a stacked andgenerally vertical orientation on outfeed platform 20. The infeed andoutfeed platforms 14, 20 are shown connected by a generally narrowenvelope travel path 26 along which envelopes are moved by a twistedbelt 28, a portion of which may be seen in the view of FIG.

Envelopes retained on the infeed platform are advanced by belt 28 past apair of generally horizontally oriented cutter wheels 30 (only one ofwhich is visible in the view of FIG. 1) which sever the bottom edges ofthe envelopes. As the envelopes are moved along travel path 26 theyencounter a deflection wall 32 which deflects envelopes towards retainer22 and an envelope stacker 34. The envelope stacker 34 is formed of aplurality of wheels 36, rotating in the direction of arrow 37, andhaving protrusions 38 with which each opened envelope is urged byrepetetive impacts against an adjustable stop or stacking fence 40. Inthis manner opened envelopes, as they arrive, are maintained with theirleading edges against stop 40 to stack sequentially until all envelopesat the infeed platform have been opened. Stacking wheels 36 arepreferably formed of a molded urethane material.

The infeed platform 14 is inclined downwardly towards wall 18 and has aslot 42 to enable a bracket (not shown) to support retainer from belowplatform 14. Outfeed platform 20 is inclined downwardly away from wall24 and provided with a slot 44 through which retainer 22 can be movablysupported with a bracket 46. The spring loading of retainers 16, 22 isobtained with suitable springs mounted below platforms 14, 20respectively. Stop 40 is adjustable between discrete locations withprojections 48 in a slot 50 in wall 24. Stop 40 is so located that thetrailing edges 52, see FIG. 2, of opened envelopes protrude either pastthe junction 54 of wall 24 and diverter wall 32 or have a desiredspacing from diverter wall 32 to enable subsequent envelopes to beconveniently stacked.

An envelope jogger 56 is provided with which the contents of an envelopemay be urged against one edge or side within the envelope. The envelopesare placed in a general vertical orientation on an platform 57 which isvertically vibrated by an eccentric motor drive 58 located belowplatform 56 to bounce envelopes up and down and thus urge their contentsto move downwardly towards the bottom edge.

After completion of the jogging, contents of the envelopes have beenmoved adjacent the envelope bottom edge. Those jogged envelopes then areplaced on infeed platform 14 but with the edges which are opposite fromthe one where the contents are adjacent to, facing down. Cutting wheels30, which may be formed in a manner as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,027,045,sever a narrow strip of material from the bottom edge of an envelope asthe envelopes on infeed platform 14 are fedby belt 28 along path 26. Theenvelope chips cut by wheels 30 are passed below a chip diverter plate29 into a suitable waste container mounted below and to the front ofoutfeed platform 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, outfeed platform is provided with an enveloperetainer 22 which is angled relative to the envelope travel path 26 toform a wide opening 60 for opened envelopes 62 to enter and pass on tostop 40. Both retainers l6 and 22 are provided with lips 64 for manualcontrol. The rotational drive for belt 28, cutter wheels and stackerwheels 36 is obtained from a motor 70 and drive belts such as 72, 74 and76 located below infeed and outfeed platforms 14, 20. The stacking wall24 is shown to recede away from retainer 22 commencing at theintersection 54 with diverter wall 32.

With reference to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of outfeed platform 20is shown. Envelope outfeed platform 20 is inclined downwardly from wall24 to facilitate movement of envelope retainer 22 as opened envelopesare stacked by stacking wheels 36. Retainer 22 is held in place with aspring 80 oriented parallel with platform 20. Drive belt 76 engages apulley 82 which is coaxially mounted with stacker wheels 36 on a shaft84.

Having thus described an automatic envelope opener in accordance withthe invention, its advantages may be appreciated. The envelope stackerconveniently retains opened envelopes against the stop while theinclination of outfeed platform facilitates the stacking. Theprotrusions on stacker wheels enable frequent impacting stacking contactwith the opened envelope without a continuous rubbing action which wouldleave undesirable visible markings.

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for automatically opening envelopescomprising an envelope opening housing having an envelope infeedplatform and an envelope outfeed platform;

the envelope infeed platform being provided with means for retainingenvelopes in a stack with each envelope being oriented on an edge in agenerally vertical position on the infeed platform;

the envelope outfeed platform being provided with means for retainingopened envelopes in stack relationship with generally the same envelopeorientation as on the infeed platform;

means defining a generally narrow envelope travel path interconnectingsaid infeed and outfeed envelope platforms; envelope cutting meanshaving a pair of generally horizontally rotating cutting wheels locatedto sever a segment of the envelope edges resting on the infeed platformto open the envelopes; and

means for driving the envelopes from the infeed platform along theenvelope travel path towards the cutting wheels for opening thereofalong said edges.

2. The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim1 wherein the outfeed platformis further provided with an uprightenvelope support wall located in general alignment with the envelopetravel path;

an envelope support oriented to receive and retain opened envelopesarriving along the travel path, the envelope support being spring loadedtowards the envelope support wall to capture opened envelopesthere'between and retain the envelopes in a generally verticalorientation.

3. The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim2 wherein the outfeed platform envelope support wall is provided with adeflecting wall segment facing the opened envelopes arriving along thetravel path;

an adjustable envelope stop located for positioning arriving envelopesto protrude past the deflecting wall segment and enable arrivingenvelopes to be stacked on edge against the envelope support.

4. The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim3 wherein the outfeed platform envelope support wall is provided withmeans for urging arriving envelopes against the envelope edge locator.

5. The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim4 wherein the urging means includes a plurality of axially alignedrotatably mounted drive wheels, each wheel having a radial protrusionextending past the envelope support wall for contact with openedenvelopes located on the outfeed platform; and

means for rotating the drive wheels in a direction selected to seatarriving opened envelopes against the envelope stop. 6. The apparatusforautomatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim 5 wherein theinfeed platform is inclined towards the travel path and wherein theoutfeed platform is downwardly inclined away from the travel path.

7. The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim6 and further including a vertically movable horizontal envelopesupporting platform, and means for vertically vibrating the envelopeplatform at a frequency selected to jog envelope contents towards theedge of the envelopes resting on the envelope platform. 8. An apparatusfor automatic opening of envelopes comprising a housing having anenvelope infeed platform terminating at a generally vertically orientedenvelope support wall and an envelope outfeed platform commencing at agenerally vertically oriented stacking wall; means defining a generallynarrow envelope travel path interconnecting the infeed platform with theoutfeed platform and being shaped to maintain envelopes travelingtherealong on a bottom edge;

means for advancing envelopes from the infeed platform to the outfeedplatform;

means located along the travel path for cutting the bottom edge of theenvelopes to open said envelopes; and

a movable envelope retainer located on the outfeed platform and beingoriented to enable opened envelopes to be stacked on edge between saidstacking wall and said retainer.

9. The automatic envelope opener as claimed in claim 8 wherein theoutfeed platform is further provided with an envelope stacker mountedbetween the retainer and the stacking wall to urge arriving openedenvelopes in a desired direction for stacking.

pacting contact with opened envelopes and means for rotating thestacking wheels.

12. The automatic envelope opener as claimed in claim 8 wherein thehousing is further provided with a movable envelope support plate, andmeans for vertically vibrating envelopes placed on the support plate tojog envelope contents against one side of the envelopes.

1. An apparatus for automatically opening envelopes comprising anenvelope opening housing having an envelope infeed platform and anenvelope outfeed platform; the envelope infeed platform being providedwith means for retaining envelopes in a stack with each envelope beingoriented on an edge in a generally vertical position on the infeedplatform; the envelope outfeed platform being provided with means forretaining opened envelopes in stack relationship with generally the sameenvelope orientation as on the infeed platform; means defining agenerally narrow envelope travel path interconnecting said infeed andoutfeed envelope platforms; envelope cutting means having a pair ofgenerally horizontally rotating cutting wheels located to sever asegment of the envelope edges resting on the infeed platform to open theenvelopes; and means for driving the envelopes from the infeed platformalong the envelope travel path towards the cutting wheels for openingthereof along said edges.
 2. The apparatus for automatic opening ofenvelopes as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outfeed platform is furtherprovided with an upright envelope support wall located in generalalignment with the envelope travel path; an envelope support oriented toreceive and retain opened envelopes arriving along the travel path, theenvelope support being spring loaded towards the envelope support wallto capture opened envelopes therebetween and retain the envelopes in agenerally vertical orientation.
 3. The apparatus for automatic openingof envelopes as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outfeed platform envelopesupport wall is provided with a deflecting wall segment facing theopened envelopes arriving along the travel path; an adjustable envelopestop located for positioning arriving envelopes to protrude past thedeflecting wall segment and enable arriving envelopes to be stacked onedge against the envelope support.
 4. The apparatus for automaticopening of envelopes as claimed in claim 3 wherein the outfeed platformenvelope support wall is provided with means for urging arrivingenvelopes against the envelope edge locator.
 5. The apparatus forautomatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim 4 wherein the urgingmeans includes a plurality of axially aligned rotatably mounted drivewheels, each wheel having a radial protrusion extending past theenvelope support wall for contact with opened envelopeS located on theoutfeed platform; and means for rotating the drive wheels in a directionselected to seat arriving opened envelopes against the envelope stop. 6.The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim 5wherein the infeed platform is inclined towards the travel path andwherein the outfeed platform is downwardly inclined away from the travelpath.
 7. The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed inclaim 6 and further including a vertically movable horizontal envelopesupporting platform, and means for vertically vibrating the envelopeplatform at a frequency selected to jog envelope contents towards theedge of the envelopes resting on the envelope platform.
 8. An apparatusfor automatic opening of envelopes comprising a housing having anenvelope infeed platform terminating at a generally vertically orientedenvelope support wall and an envelope outfeed platform commencing at agenerally vertically oriented stacking wall; means defining a generallynarrow envelope travel path interconnecting the infeed platform with theoutfeed platform and being shaped to maintain envelopes travelingtherealong on a bottom edge; means for advancing envelopes from theinfeed platform to the outfeed platform; means located along the travelpath for cutting the bottom edge of the envelopes to open saidenvelopes; and a movable envelope retainer located on the outfeedplatform and being oriented to enable opened envelopes to be stacked onedge between said stacking wall and said retainer.
 9. The automaticenvelope opener as claimed in claim 8 wherein the outfeed platform isfurther provided with an envelope stacker mounted between the retainerand the stacking wall to urge arriving opened envelopes in a desireddirection for stacking.
 10. The automatic envelope opener as claimed inclaim 9 wherein the outfeed platform is further provided with anadjustable envelope stop located to receive and align the front edge ofopened envelopes thereby positioning the trailing edge of said envelopesto provide a clear path of travel for the next envelope to be received.11. The automatic envelope opener as claimed in claim 9 wherein theenvelope stacker is formed of a plurality of stacking wheels havingprotrusion for impacting contact with opened envelopes and means forrotating the stacking wheels.
 12. The automatic envelope opener asclaimed in claim 8 wherein the housing is further provided with amovable envelope support plate, and means for vertically vibratingenvelopes placed on the support plate to jog envelope contents againstone side of the envelopes.